Edwaed weston



(No Model.)

B. WESTON.

I INGANDESGENT LAMP.

Patented Apr. 20,1886.

jzwerzor:

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

EDWARD WESTON, OF N EWVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATESELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INCANDESCENT LAMP.

Application filed August Q6, 1885.

T Mi whom. Ilimcty concern.-

Be it known that LEDWARD WEs'r0N,a subjectof the Queen of Great Britain,and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIncandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the drawings accompanyiug'and forming a part of the same.

to In incandescent electric lamps as commonly made a slender strip orfilament of carbon is united to metallic wires, which are sealed in thematerial of the receiver or globe in which the carbon is contained.Various expedir 5 ents have been resorted to for effecting a goodmechanical or electrical joint or union between the carbon and itssupporting-wires. This is somewhat facilitated by forming the carbonwith enlarged ends, or subsequently applying by electro-depositionmasses of carbon upon the ends of the filament. The supportingwires havebeen united to these ends by screws and nuts, by spring-clamps, bycarbon paste, and by an electro-deposited joint; but the best forms ofjoint as yet devised have many objectionable features, which becomeapparent after the lamp has been in use for some time.

My object is to produce a better and more durable form ofjoint or meansfor uniting the 0 carbon and metallic conductors, and this I accomplishin the following manner: I form the carbons from slender threads orstrips cut out by a die or shearing-blade from any 'suitable material,whether fibrous or amorphous, 5 though I prefer to use the substancecalled by me tamidine. Upon the ends of these strips, aftercarbonization, I build up or deposit enlarged ends of carbon by thewellknown process of electro-deposition-that is to 40 say, by raising toi'ncandescence such portions of the carbons only as I desire to enlargein a hydrocarbon fluid or vapor. The electrodeposited ends or stubs Ithen immerse in an electrolytic solution-preferably a solution ofnickeland by means of a light current I deposit thereon a coating ofhard metal. The conducting or supporting wires of platinum I flatten onthe ends, and by a suitable tool I form them into a tube or socket. Theelectroplated stubs are then inserted into these tubes PECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 340.396, dated April 20, 1886.

Serial No.175.350. (No model.)

or sockets, which are then slightly pinched when necessary to insuregood contact.

the ends or stubs of the carbons into metal sockets on the ends of thesupporting-wires, and also to flatten and wrap around the stubs the endsof said wires. It is possible to obtain a good joint in this way whenthe stub of the carbon is formed in the blank before carbonization or isan integral part of the carbon filament itself; but when it is appliedby electro-deposition orsimilar means, it is less easy to obtain a goodjoint, for by attempting to insert a tightly-fitting stub into a tube orsocket,or to pinch the socket or flattened wire around the stub, thelatter or the filament, or both,are very liable to be broken. Theelectropressure is apt to crack them. An electrodeposited metal orcarbon film over and around a joint thus formed avoids the difficultyonly in part, for while it prevents to a great extent the joint fromloosening under wide changes of temperature, itis a process involvinggreat care in its execution and several steps in the subsequenttreatment of the carbon. By the process which I have invented, however,a smooth and even shell or casing of metal is formed upon the stub,which is capable of resisting considerable pressure, and which not onlyprotects the stub,but maintains good electrical contact so long as anypart of it touches the platinum tube or socket on the supporting-wires.

' In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 represents the carbon stripswithout the stubs. Fig. 2 shows the same with the stubs. Fig. 3 showsthe electro-deposited metal shell on the stubs. Fig. 4 illustrates themanner of forming the wires. Fig. 5 is a view of a carbon attached tothe supporting-wires.

A is the carbon; B the stubs formed or applied by the well-known processof electrodeof October 21, 1884.

C is the metal coating or shell of nickel. The supporting-wires F areflattened at the ends, as shown at D,Fig. 4, and then rolled or drawninto the tube or socket, as at E in the same figure. They are thensealed in a mass It has been the practice heretofore toinsert depositedstubs are quite brittle, and the least position described in my PatentNo. 306,980, I

of glass, as G. The carbons are then mounted by inserting the stubs intothe tubes E, and, when the two do not fit tightly, pinching slightly thetube upon the stub.

I am aware that stubs or enlarged ends have been formed byelectro-deposition and similar means upon carbon conductors and I amalso aware that the ends of carbons, whether enlarged or not, have beenelectroplated; but in all cases of which I am aware the enlarged endformed originally an integral part of the carbon, and the coatingofmetal has been applied solely for the purpose of obtaining goodcontact. My invention applies, however, only to electrodeposited stubs,and the purpose of the metal jacket or shell is not only to secure goodcontact, but to resist pressure and protect the carbon from being brokenor injured. For this reason, as above explained, it must be thicker thanthe coat required only for contact, and should be of a hard metal thatmakes a perfect union with the carbon. For this reason I use nickel.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A carbon conductor having electro-deposited stubsor ends of carbon incased in electro-deposited casings or shells ofInetal,in combination with supporting-wires formed with tubes or socketsat their ends,into which the stubs are inserted, as set forth.

2. A carbon conductor having electro-deposited stubs or ends of carbonincased in electro-deposited casings or shells ofmetal, in combinationwith supporting-wires of platinum flattened at their ends and rolled ordrawn into tubes or sockets, into which the stubs are inserted, as setforth.

3. A carbon conductor having electro-deposited stubs or ends of carbonincased in electro-deposited casings or shells of nickel,in combinationwith supporting-wires of platinum formed with tubes or sockets on theirends, into which the stubs of the carbon are inserted, as set forth.

4. A carbon conductor having electro de' posited stubs or ends incasedin electro-deposited metallic casings or shells, as set forth.

5. The method or process of mounting the conductors of incandescentlamps, which consists in forming or building up on the ends of a carbonstrip enlargements or stubs, re-euforcing said stubs with-a casing orshell of an electro'deposited metal, such as nickel, and uniting saidstubs to the supporting-wires,all substantially as herein set forth.

ED WARD \VESTON. Witnesses MAURICE A. MULLER, PARKER XV. PAGE.

